Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1513434
o c t o b e r • n o v e m b e r • d e c e m b e r 2 0 2 3 c g w 2 5 OUTLOOK Camera Robotics for Virtual Production BY DAN BROOKS MRMC: HEAD OF MARKETING & PR V irtual production is a rapidly evolving eld, and motion control plays an important supporting role in its development. We are excited about the future of these technologies and the new creative possibilities they represent for lmmakers. Across many productions worldwide, we are seeing a growing number of MRMC's motion control camera robots being used in combination with virtual production by some of the biggest names in the industry. The increasing use of camera robotics in virtual production en- ables improved accuracy and more stable camera position data, which means better, more stable backgrounds, which in turn allows for the use of multiple passes for improved lighting and additional eects. Pre-programmed moves straight from previz also create better background rendering by allowing for pre-rendering time, which streamlines the production workow straight from previz with fewer takes. MRMC rigs automatically take the data from the Bolt, Milo, Titan, or any MRMC moco [motion control] rig, converting it to Unreal's coordinate space via the Unreal Engine LiveLink plug- in. This minimizes any potential rendering lag, essentially tethering the virtual camera in Unreal to the Bolt robotic camera. The LiveLink plug-in can also be used for previsualization. MRMC's Flair motion control soware can be connected directly to Unreal and used to generate realtime feedback for camera moves before a set has even been built. Hand in hand with the rise of virtual production is the increasing number of LED volumes in circulation in studios in the UK and be- yond, making the technology more widespread and accessible. The obvious benet of LED walls is that they can create immersive vir- tual environments that can be visualized for the talent without the need for a greenscreen and changed on the y if required. This allows lmmakers to shoot scenes in any location, real or imagined, with- out having to leave the studio, which also helps reduce the carbon footprint of productions. Our motion control rigs can create complex camera movements that interact with the LED walls, creating truly cinematic visuals. As a famous example of this, the Bolt Cinebot was used extensively on the Disney+ series The Mandalorian. The Bolt Cinebot was used to create complex camera movements that in- teracted with the show's LED walls, creating immersive intergalactic virtual environments. The future of virtual production is very bright and works to solve many of the challenges facing lmmakers today. As technology continues to improve, virtual production will become even more ac- cessible and aordable. This will open up new creative possibilities for lmmakers of all levels. MRMC's motion control products and soware solutions are being used to help shape the future of virtual production workows. As technology continues to improve, virtual production will become even more widely used, and motion control will have a central role in its development. We are committed to de- veloping new products and solutions that help lmmakers to create the best possible stories.